Author: Stavros O. Alexopoulos, DPM

April is Foot Health Awareness Month, and here’s a chance to see how much you know. Begin by answering true or false to each of the following five statements, then check the answers below: My diabetes doesn’t have anything to do with my feet. Diet and exercise are critical to foot health. Smoking is bad…

Have you been diagnosed with gout? Gout is an illness in which uric acid builds up in the body. Crystals then float through the bloodstream, settling in the joints and causing painful gout attacks. The joint of the big toe is particularly vulnerable. Gout is incurable, but there are steps that you can take to…

If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, it is especially important to visit your foot doctor regularly. Routine visits with a board-certified podiatrist like Stavros Alexopolous, DPM are the best way to make sure that existing issues are properly diagnosed and that potential problems are nipped in the bud. Diabetes is a full-body illness with myriad complications, two of…

Have you ever heard of a “love fracture?” It sounds like what happens to a high schooler’s heart after a first breakup goes south but, in fact, it’s the common name for a fracture of the calcaneus, your heel bone. What Causes a Heel Fracture? Fractures of the calcaneus occur frequently, but they are not…

Swollen feet are a common reason for patients to visit their foot doctor’s office. When one or both feet are swollen, standing and walking can become uncomfortable, and moving becomes challenging, leading to limited activity and diminished overall health. If you notice swelling in your feet, ankles, or lower legs, you should be seen quickly…

A sprained ankle is a painful injury that can keep you off your feet for weeks. Weak ankles are more likely to twist when you step awkwardly and can result in a foot fracture. Here are some tips from Dr. Stavros O. Alexopoulos to help keep yours strong and flexible: Do exercises specifically designed to target the…

In the developing human body, there are sections of bones known as growth plates. Also known as the epiphyseal plate or physis, the growth plate is the area of growing tissue near the end of the long bones in children and adolescents. Each long bone has at least one growth plate at each end of the bone….

Charcot foot is a disease that attacks the bones, joints, and soft tissue in the feet. It progresses slowly. Unchecked, it can cause painful sores or even change the shape of your foot. The good news is that early diagnosis and intervention can lead to treatment and prevent any permanent damage from occurring. The people who…

If you already have an ongoing relationship with your podiatrist, you’ve taken a great first step in maintaining and protecting your foot health. You probably visit your doctor once a year for an examination that will help identify existing or potential problems and ensure appropriate treatment. But what if something happens in between visits? How…

You have a small gland called the pancreas. It is located about six inches long and located in your torso behind your stomach. Your pancreas is responsible for the production of the hormone insulin which is necessary for the effective regulation of blood sugar levels. When the pancreas produces insufficient insulin, or even none at…